1 John 4:7

¶ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

Beloved {G27}, let us love {G25} one another {G240}: for {G3754} love {G26} is {G2076} of {G1537} God {G2316}; and {G2532} every one {G3956} that loveth {G25} is born {G1080} of {G1537} God {G2316}, and {G2532} knoweth {G1097} God {G2316}.

Beloved friends, let us love one another; because love is from God; and everyone who loves has God as his Father and knows God.

Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God.

Commentary

The Apostle John, often called the "apostle of love," delivers a profound and fundamental truth in 1 John 4:7. This verse serves as a cornerstone for understanding the nature of God and the authentic marks of Christian faith. It unequivocally states that love originates from God, and its presence in a person's life signifies a true relationship with Him.

Context

This verse is situated within a crucial section of John's first epistle, where he emphasizes the inseparable link between knowing God and demonstrating love. Having just discussed the importance of discerning spirits and testing prophecies, John pivots to the ultimate test of genuine faith: love. He contrasts true believers, who walk in love, with false teachers and those who claim to know God but lack this essential characteristic. For John, love is not merely an emotion but a tangible expression of one's spiritual regeneration and knowledge of God, providing a clear pathway to discern true faith from counterfeit claims.

Key Themes

  • Love's Divine Origin: The declaration "love is of God" (Greek: ek tou theou) is central. It asserts that true, selfless love does not arise naturally from human nature but flows directly from God's essence. God is not just loving; He is love. Therefore, any genuine expression of love reflects His character and nature.
  • Love as Evidence of New Birth: "every one that loveth is born of God." This highlights that practicing love is a powerful indicator of spiritual rebirth. It's not just an ethical command but a natural outflow of a transformed heart. Just as a child bears the characteristics of its parent, those born of God will manifest His loving nature in their lives.
  • Love and Knowing God: "and knoweth God." The ability to truly love is inextricably linked to a deep, experiential knowledge of God. This isn't merely intellectual assent to facts about God but an intimate, relational understanding that transforms one's life and actions. To genuinely know God is to reflect His primary attribute—love—in our interactions with others.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "love" used here is agape (ἀγάπη), which signifies a self-sacrificial, unconditional, and benevolent love, distinct from mere affection (philia) or romantic desire (eros). This is the kind of love God demonstrates toward humanity (John 3:16) and the kind He calls believers to exhibit towards one another. The phrase "knoweth God" comes from the Greek verb ginosko (γινώσκω), which implies a personal, experiential knowledge gained through relationship, not just intellectual understanding or theoretical knowledge.

Practical Application

This verse offers a profound challenge and comfort for believers today. It calls us to actively "love one another" as a direct response to God's nature and our new identity in Christ. Our love for fellow believers serves as a compelling testimony to the world (John 13:35) and confirms our spiritual standing. If we struggle to love, this verse prompts introspection: Are we truly allowing God's love to flow through us? Cultivating this divine love is not just a moral obligation but a privilege that deepens our knowledge of God and strengthens the bonds of Christian fellowship, making our faith visible and impactful.

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Cross-References

  • 1 John 4:8

    He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

  • 1 John 4:20

    If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

  • 1 John 5:1

    ¶ Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

  • 1 Peter 1:22

    Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:

  • 1 John 2:10

    He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

  • Galatians 5:22

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

  • 2 Timothy 1:7

    For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.